Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

Unlike Windows XP, Microsoft’s Vista will not include DirectSound hardware acceleration. DirectSound and DirectSound3D will still function; however, they will no longer use hardware acceleration. Vista’s audio stack completely removes support for hardware accelerated audio. Microsoft intended to include extensions capability to the Vista audio stack that would allow manufacturers to provide support for hardware acceleration, but that idea was scrapped in the push to get Vista out on time. The lack of hardware acceleration support impacts 3D positional audio, primarily in video games.

To fill in this void in Vista, Creative is developing and backing OpenAL, a cross-platform 3D audio API appropriate for use with gaming applications and many other types of audio applications. Games that support OpenAL today will continue to provide full hardware-enhanced 3D audio under Windows Vista.

OpenAL has predominantly been supported by Creative products. Other vendors, like Auzentech, are now transitioning to OpenAL. Auzentech soundcards have become a favorite of DIY computer enthusiasts, especially for HTPCs, becuase of its support for Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital Live, and DTS Connect. Creative, in many ways, is a step behind Auzentech for sound performance in media centers. OpenAL support from a vendor besides Creative bodes well for media centers, since consumers will not have to sacrifice sound performance in games in order to have a quality media center soundcard.

According to the Auzentech website:

Our developers are hard at work on the Microsoft Windows Vista™ drivers. The preliminary instructions previously posted for MS Windows Vista no longer apply and are no longer available. We are coding the necessary drivers for Vista.

Auzentech will continue support for Dolby® Digital Live and DTS® Connect with Vista.